Ferret diet rule number one is this: meat! Ferrets are carnivores, more so than other household pets such as dogs or even cats. Their primary diet need is meat protein, followed by fat. A dry, high-quality ferret food is the best food to base your pet’s diet on, one that lists a minimum content of 34% protein and 22% fat on the analysis portion of the food bag. Also, the food should list chicken and other meat as the first two or three ingredients.
The problem with this ideal ferret diet is that the best commercial ferret foods are not always easy to get, especially if you live in a rural area. Also, that food is premium in price as well as quality. So, if you find it impossible to use the best ferret food, what are your options? What should you substitute, and what should you absolutely not feed your pet?
Can I Use Kitten Food?
High-quality kitten food is a reasonable substitute for a ferret diet. Food meant for adult cats doesn’t have enough fat to supply all the energy a ferret uses. Dog food is a bad substitute, with not nearly enough nutrients to keep a ferret healthy. But a top kitten food is usually comprised of meat protein, contains a high percentage of fat, and will come pretty close to a ferret’s nutrition needs.
Check The Ingredients
Even if the food is labeled for ferrets, it’s a good idea to check the ingredients. There are quite a few things to be wary of when providing a healthy ferret diet. Corn can cause digestion problems and kidney stones in ferrets, so don’t use a food that lists corn as an ingredient. Also watch out for fish protein, often found in mink food masquerading as ferret kibble. Fish protein is not nearly as good for ferrets as meat protein. While vegetable oil is okay, beware of mineral oil which can cause mineral deficiencies in ferrets.
What To Avoid
While we are used to thinking of fiber as a good thing, which it is for humans, fiber is not good in a ferret diet. Ferrets are not designed to process fiber and complex carbohydrates. Just because your pet likes the taste of fruits, grains and vegetables, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to let it have them. Your pet might end up with an intestinal blockage which can be deadly. Avoid any ferret food that has pieces of dried vegetables in it. Dairy is also something ferrets love to taste, but it will cause diarrhea.
Ferrets eat often, so a bowl of food should always be available, as should fresh water. Another tricky part of providing a good ferret diet is that these animals learn what they’re supposed to eat in the first few months of life, and will often not recognize anything else as food. This can be a serious problem if your pet develops an illness and requires special food. It may not be willing to eat if it can’t have its regular kibble. One way around this is to give other foods that your pet may eventually have to rely on for survival as treats and snacks.
Diet Supplements
The ideal supplement to any ferret diet is Duck Soup, one of the best known foods for nursing a sick ferret back to health. This soup was created to save the life of a ferret named Lucky Ducky and several versions of the recipe are available online. It’s basically a mixture of chicken baby food, water or PediaLyte, moistened ferret food and vitamin supplements. If your ferret already knows that this mixture is for eating, you’ll have an easier time caring for it when it is sick.
Other Ferret Articles
